Private Cars GEORGIA 300 + NORTHERN DREAMS to visit GCT

Private cars GEORGIA 300 and NORTHERN DREAMS will be visiting Grand Central Terminal for a few days around Thanksgiving 2004 while their owners and guests enjoy their annual visit to the Big Apple. The cars will move from Pennsylvania Station or Sunnyside Yard to GCT and return as an Amtrak - Metro North special train, probably via SHELL rather than SPUYTEN DUYVIL.

What's the history of these? Are they former New York Central?

mncommuter wrote:What's the history of these? Are they former New York Central?

There are no known NYC connections in the lineage of either car.

GEORGIA 300 was built by Pullman in 1930 as 10 section lounge GENERAL POLK. Rebuilt to Georgia RR business car 300 in 1954. Retired in 1982 and sold into private ownership.

NORTHERN DREAMS was built by Pullman Standard in 1955 as Union Pacific 5 double bedroom Redwood Lounge NORTH PLATTE. In 1956, UP rebuilt the car to 11 double bedrooms and renamed it STAR SCENE. Sold to Amtrak in 1971; was 2254 and later 2230 in AutoTrain service. Retired in 1999 and sold into private ownership. Current owner had Avalon Rail shop convert car to current configuration.

By the way, I think they arrive at GCT tonight (Tuesday November 23rd) after the PM rush hour and depart GCT on Friday or Saturday.

If anyone gets a good photo, please share it with us.

I saw these two cars today, about 4:00PM after leaving Penn on the LIRR. An Amtrak AEM-7 was hauling the two cars towards Penn Station just by Sunnyside yard